Overview
- Rep. Nellie Pou’s Save the World Cup Act proposes a roughly one‑mile limit on immigration enforcement around stadiums, transit hubs and fan zones before and after matches, but it has not been enacted.
- ICE officials declined in recent congressional hearings to pledge a pause on operations during the tournament, intensifying anxiety in Latino communities after raids before the 2025 Club World Cup depressed attendance.
- Mexico City leaders are considering a June 11 day off for the opening match to ease congestion from planned closures around Estadio Azteca, according to Morena spokesman Paulo García.
- Iran football chief Mehdi Taj said participation is in doubt following U.S. strikes on Tehran, while Iraq’s delegation faced airspace and visa disruptions for a March 31 playoff, with Mexico facilitating consular processing in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
- FIFA plans to deploy about 65,000 unpaid volunteers with meals, official kits and certificates as benefits, with applications closed after more than a million submissions.